Drivers urged to hang up and drive

Driving while talking on a hand-held cell phone could result in a traffic infraction under a proposal making its way through the state Legislature.

A state senator from Federal Way is sponsoring legislation that would ban driving while talking on a cell phone unless a hands-free headset is being used.

"My concern number-one is safety. It's the same effect as a seatbelt," said Sen Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, the legislation's main sponsor. "I want to make sure that when people get behind the wheel of a car, they are aware of what they are doing. Preferably they won't talk on a cell phone, but if they do, I want to make sure they have their hands free."

Eide's bill, Senate Bill 5160, passed the Senate 28-18 earlier this month. The bill now awaits a vote by the House Transportation Committee.

If the bill becomes law, it would take effect Jan. 1, 2006.

The New England Journal of Medicine reported in 1997 that driving while using a cell phone is the equivalent to driving while intoxicated, Eide said.

To further her argument, Eide said that Sprint is the only wireless company not supporting her bill.

Barb Young, government affairs manager for Sprint, said the legislation unfairly singles out cell phone use above other distractions that could occur while driving.

Young cited several studies that put cell phone use low on a list of distractions while driving. She said that a study conducted by the American Automobile Association in 2002 found that drivers paying attention to objects outside of the car accounted for 30 percent of accidents, but talking on a cell phone accounted for 1.5 percent.

"Given the information we have today, it's unreasonable to single out cell phone use above any other distraction as far as legislation goes," Young said.

Young said Sprint does support another bill being pushed by Eide that would call for a study on the cause of motor accidents.

Eide does say, however, that there are setbacks to her proposal to put restrictions on cell phone use.

"It's not going to solve the problem" Eide said. "It is exactly the same, whether you still have an earpiece. When you are on the phone, you still visualize the person you are talking to ... but at least it's a start."